Hiyashi Chuka Yuzu Ramen with Grilled Shrimp

Serves: 2–3
Prep Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

Ramen & Toppings

• 1 pack fresh ramen noodles
• 3 tiger prawns (in shell)
• ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• ½ green onion, thinly sliced
• Handful of arugula
• ½ cup shelled edamame
• ½ cup cucumber, thinly sliced

Yuzu Dressing

• ⅓ cup yuzu juice
• ⅓ cup soy sauce
• ⅓ cup rice vinegar
• 2 tbsp sugar

Directions:

1. Prepare the Dressing: In a bowl, whisk together yuzu juice, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sugar until fully dissolved. Chill in the refrigerator while preparing the remaining components.
2. Cook the Noodles: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the ramen noodles according to package instructions. Drain, then rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and remove excess starch. Set aside to cool completely.
3. Grill the Shrimp: Peel and devein the prawns if desired. Grill over medium-high heat for 2–3 minutes per side, until fully cooked and lightly charred. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
4. Assemble the Bowl: Divide the chilled noodles between serving bowls. Arrange tomatoes, cucumber, edamame, arugula, and green onion over top. Add the grilled shrimp.
5. Finish & Serve: Pour the chilled yuzu dressing over the noodles just before serving. Toss lightly to combine and serve immediately.

***

Notes:

– Yuzu juice can be substituted with a mix of lemon and grapefruit juice if unavailable
– Protein can be swapped (chicken, tofu, or omitted for a vegetarian option)
– Best served immediately after assembly for optimal texture

The post Recipe for Hiyashi Chuka Yuzu Ramen with Grilled Shrimp from Crafty Ramen appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

What is your business called, and what does it do?

Pace Pharmacy is a Toronto-based specialty compounding pharmacy recognized for personalized care and industry-leading innovation. I recently launched VetMeds, an animal health division of the pharmacy that gives Canadian pet owners a reliable, more affordable way to get the medications their pets need, easily and conveniently.

What made you want to do this work?

With 25 years of experience in the pharmacy industry, and as a dog owner my entire life, I founded VetMeds after a visit to the vet revealed my own dog had been prescribed a human medication at a disproportionately high price. Recognizing a gap in patient care, I am now on a mission to help pet parents access safe and approved treatments, all while saving them money on medications that their furry family members require.

What problem did you want to solve with the business?

Pace Pharmacy takes the stress out of getting medications, especially when they’re hard to find or need to be compounded. Most pharmacies aren’t set up for complex compounding, but Pace Pharmacy can tailor medications to the exact strength, format, or ingredients a patient needs. It also fills gaps in the market by sourcing products that aren’t readily available elsewhere. Beyond the medication itself, the convenience factor is a major problem we solve for busy families. People can get exactly what they need without rearranging their day, thanks to flexible delivery and a team that handles the frustration that usually comes with pharmacy pickups.

VetMeds gives pet owners a trustworthy and affordable alternative to overpriced vet-dispensed meds. Since vets control most of the supply and have always added heavy markups and fees, pet owners often end up paying far more than they should. Pace Pharmacy’s VetMeds division provides the exact same medications through a pharmacy at a much lower cost, easing the financial barriers and providing serious savings. Convenience is, of course, a factor here too, by making pet prescriptions just as simple and seamless to fill as human ones.

Who are your clientele/demographics?

We serve people of Toronto: the patients who want easy, reliable access to medications. We also work directly with many different types of prescribers to make the prescription process smoother and less of a hassle for them and their patients.

How does your business make money? How does it work?

It’s a very basic business model. Pace Pharmacy earns revenue by dispensing prescription medications and non-prescription products, as well as providing specialized pharmacy services. Patients and customers pay for the medications, products, and services, and we often deliver directly to them. Pace Pharmacy makes money by solving real problems for prescribers and patients while offering a level of service and support that other pharmacies typically cannot provide.

Where in the city can we find your profession?

Pace Pharmacy and VetMeds have two locations – one in Leaside, a trusted neighbourhood pharmacy, and one near Yonge and Bloor, conveniently located between Yorkville and the Church-Wellesley Village.

What is the best question a prospective customer could ask a member of your profession when comparing services? Give the answer as well.

The first question to ask would be, “How do you ensure the safety, accuracy, and consistency of the pharmacy compounds you prepare?”

A trustworthy compounding pharmacy should be able to explain its quality assurance processes in simple terms. That includes how staff are trained, how much experience they have, how formulations are verified, what checks are in place to prevent errors (for example, how many people are involved in the compounding process, from start to finish), and how the pharmacy stays aligned with provincial and industry standards. You should also hear about documentation, ingredient sourcing, and how often equipment and processes are reviewed.

Strong systems and a culture of accountability are what protect patients. When a pharmacy can clearly walk you through the experience the organization has in maintaining those standards, that is when you know you can trust them.

What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?

The best part of my work at Pace Pharmacy is knowing we’re giving someone an option that genuinely improves their quality of life. Sometimes that means creating a treatment they couldn’t get anywhere else. Other times, it is offering a service that makes their day easier or hearing how our team was able to help when others couldn’t. I also enjoy the creativity that compounding allows. In a field that can be rigid, finding customized solutions for patients is incredibly rewarding.

The worst part is the administrative side of running a busy compounding pharmacy. It is important, and it keeps everything running safely and smoothly, but it’s definitely the part I enjoy the least.

What is your favourite joke about your own profession?

A good one is that pharmacists don’t have trust issues; we just verify everything. Anyone who works in healthcare knows exactly why that joke exists!

Where can we follow you?

You can learn more about our compound pharmacies at pacepharmacy.com, and follow Pace Pharmacy on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram @pacepharmacy and VetMeds on LinkedIn and Instagram @vetmeds.

The post Homegrown Business: Adam Silvertown of Pace Pharmacy appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Heidi cares deeply about cities, how they hold memory, how they evolve, and how their citizens find themselves reflected in them. She brings both intellectual rigour and generosity to her work, pushing institutions to be more open, more collaborative, and more courageous.

At Museum of Toronto, she found a challenge that matched her ambition: building a city museum from the ground up. What motivates her isn’t prestige, but purpose: creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and connected to the place they call home.

Those who know her admire her boldness, her steadiness, and her unwavering belief that culture can shape civic life for the better.

***

What neighbourhood are you in?

I live in what is now deemed Little Ethiopia (formerly Greek Town). I love the eclectic nature of the Danforth. Great restaurants, local businesses and a great mix of people. The food is terrific in this part of town – truly unexpected, with some Michelin-recognized fare as well as some family-run places. Like all of Toronto, this area feels like many people have come from very different places and experiences and made it home. There is a real sense of lived histories here – so much of it layered, evolving, and shared. There is also a mix of old and young, which makes the neighbourhood feel alive and very rich in interests.

I have a dog, so green space is important. We walk a lot, and the choices from local parks to Taylor Creek to Ashbridges Bay – where the winter stations feature – this time of year, is wide-ranging and the walks are easy.

It’s these layers of experience that reinforce for me why an initiative such as the Museum of Toronto is so vital. Each of us has a unique relationship to the city, and we work on projects that share and highlight how we are all unique and integral to this city, to our neighbourhoods, stories, and public spaces. You can’t consider how we will shape our city together without sharing what we know, love and question about it.

What do you do?

I’m the CEO of Museum of Toronto, a different kind of city museum that curates the untold histories that shape the identity of our city. My role is to define how communities tell, share and bring our stories to life so every Torontonian (and visitor) can feel more connected with this city.

We work with communities, with academics, archivists, artists, and many partners across the city to make sure that Toronto’s histories aren’t just a list of dates and facts, but a living, breathing conversation that reflects the diversity and energy of the people who live here.

What are you working on right now?

We’re working on the remount of The 52 Live Theatrical experience, to be presented in association with Luminato Festival in June of this year. Did you know that 52% of the population of Toronto are women? The 52 celebrates 52 women who helped make Toronto what it is today. It is performed throughout the City of Toronto Archives, told in an intimate set of monologues and music. It’s quite brilliant, and unlike anything you will have ever seen.

Where can we find the work of the Museum of Toronto?

Right now, you can visit The 52: Stories of Women who Transformed Toronto, an exhibition at our 401 Richmond Street West space, which is free to the public. The exhibition highlights 52 women who helped shape Toronto and brings forward stories that deserve greater recognition.
Until the end of March, we also have Mr. Dressup to Degrassi: 42 Years of Legendary Kids TV at Harbourfront, another exhibition, which explores the cultural impact of the golden era of children’s TV programs.

As the summer approaches, we are preparing to launch a new exhibition called the T.O. You Don’t Know, which will inspire people to learn about the more hidden layers of our city. We are excited to share more details soon.

This work matters because sharing experiences and histories is how we can connect. Toronto is more layered and revelatory than people think. And we have seen firsthand that people get excited as they find out more about the histories of this place. More often than not, it surprises people and even moves them. We believe that what connects us is knowledge about something that happened right here in the city, whether it’s a historical figure whose work changed the city or a cultural movement that shaped a neighbourhood. We know that sharing these stories in a museum space creates a deeper sense of connection and belonging to this place. We are building a space where people feel seen by each other, and connected to the shared histories of this city.

The post “A Day in the Life” with: Heidi Reitmaier, Executive Director, Museum of Toronto appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Describe the charity in a few sentences.

Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital is the only children’s rehabilitation hospital in Canada focused on combining world-class care, transformational research and academic leadership in the field of pediatric disability. At Holland Bloorview, we believe in creating a world where all youth and children belong. Every year, we help over 9,500 kids and youth with disabilities and complex medical needs access care that focuses on their physical, mental and emotional well-being, and we power their infinite potential and possibilities.

What problem does it aim to solve?

240 million children worldwide have a disability. Yet, there are only a handful of research hospitals focused on pediatric disability care. Coupled with an alarming shortage of specially trained clinicians, inadequate investment in research, and barriers to accessibility, kids with disabilities face inequities in virtually every area of their lives. We’re raising $100 million to address the profound gaps in healthcare experienced by kids and youth with disabilities in Canada and around the world. Through our Centre for Excellence in Childhood Disability, we’re making sure kids with disabilities have access to the latest evidence-based care, programs, and technology—wherever they are, when they need it most.

When did it start?

Holland Bloorview was established in 1899 and has evolved from a facility that could care for children with disabilities and chronic illnesses to Canada’s largest children’s rehabilitation hospital focused on improving the lives of kids with disabilities. We are a global leader in applied research, teaching and learning and client and family-centred care with a vision to create a world of possibility for kids with disabilities.

What makes people want to get involved?

Holland Bloorview is like nowhere else. As Canada’s hospital for kids with disabilities, and a world-leading centre for ground-breaking pediatric research and education, we are uniquely positioned to address the most critical needs facing kids with disabilities and their families, in Canada and globally. Our donors make a difference, allowing us to expand, innovate and ensure kids with disabilities can access the best care possible. Our donors are daring to change the face of disability healthcare in Canada.

What was the situation like when it started?

Fewer than 10 centres globally combine pediatric research and education in a hospital setting. And, we are facing a critical shortage of healthcare providers for people with disabilities.

How has it changed since?

Holland Bloorview has the expertise, the people, and the power to make critical change. OurTeaching and Learning Institute is filling urgent gaps in healthcare and reducing wait times by providing specialized training to over 400 healthcare professionals across multiple disciplines. We’re collaborating with agencies across Canada to bring our evidence-based programs to new communities and populations.

What more needs to be done?

With 23% of disability healthcare providers set to retire in the next 5 years, we need to train more disability healthcare professionals. We need to significantly reduce the average time, 17 years, for research to translate into clinical care practice. And we need to accelerate disability inclusion and health equity, providing greater support to families and communities who are disproportionately impacted by disabilities.

How can our readers help?

Dare to wear a cape from March 6 to 13, 2026 and raise funds to help kids with disabilities move, speak, play and heal. Register for Capes for Kids at CapesForKids.ca.

Do you have any events coming up?

Take your support to greater heights during Capes for Kids week. Visit CapesForKids.ca for more information on our action-packed events.

Where can we follow you?

Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Website

The post Charitable Choices: Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

What is your business called and what does it do?

Rexall Pharmacy Group Ltd. is a Canadian-owned and operated pharmacy retailer that has been caring for many generations for over 120 years. We operate more than 370 pharmacies, offering trusted care through medication management, vaccine administration and a wide range of pharmacist-led services.

What made you want to do this work?

As a pharmacist, I’ve always been passionate about helping people live healthier lives. At Rexall, we focus on the health and well-being of the communities we serve. Our pharmacists are deeply committed to providing care beyond the counter, whether that’s in-store, online, or through mobile clinics for organizations that meet people where they are. Seeing the difference we make in people’s lives is what inspires me every day.

What problem did you want to solve with the business?

Canada is facing a growing gap in primary care, with millions of people lacking access to a family doctor. Rexall, like other pharmacies, is helping to close that gap by offering pharmacist-led services that are accessible, convenient, and community-focused, in combination with other healthcare professionals. Our mobile flu clinics are a great example of how we’re making healthcare easier to access. By bringing flu shots directly to retirement homes, corporate offices, and even hockey arenas, we’re helping people protect themselves and their families without needing to travel or wait.

Who are your clientele/demographics?

We serve people in Canada. We have 370 locations across the country, servicing parts of Ontario and Western Canada. We are here for everyone who needs trusted and accessible care.

Where in the city can we find your profession?

Rexall pharmacies are conveniently located throughout Toronto (we have 35 locations in Toronto) and across Ontario and Western Canada. We are located where people live, work, and gather.

What is the best question a prospective customer could ask a member of your profession when comparing services? Give the answer as well.

“How can your pharmacy help me manage my health beyond just filling prescriptions?”

Our pharmacists can prescribe and dispense medication for some common illnesses in one convenient visit. In our Pharmacist Led Walk-in Clinics, if a pharmacist cannot provide a solution, they can introduce the patient to a virtual physician during the same visit. We also use VOYCE technology to connect with live interpreters in over 240 languages, ensuring that everyone can have access to care and not have it be limited because of language barriers.

What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?

The best part is seeing the impact we can make in people’s lives. Whether it’s helping someone get the flu vaccine, guiding them through a complex health issue, or helping customers with a minor ailment, our team genuinely cares. I always feel proud when our customers come back with notes of appreciation for our teams.

The most challenging part is keeping up with the growing demand for care. The work we do motivates us to keep learning, advocating and growing.

What is your favourite joke about your own profession?

Why do pharmacists make great friends? – Because they’re always there when you need a dose of support.

Where can we follow you?

Instagram | Facebook | Website

PAY IT FORWARD: What is another local business that you love?

Lady York Food Store. It’s a true local gem, deeply embedded in the Italian community and known for its warm, welcoming atmosphere. They offer an incredible selection of Mediterranean products and serve multigenerational families with care and pride. I’ve been going there for years; their fresh produce, meats, charcuterie, bread and cheeses are unbeatable. It’s the kind of place where you’re greeted with a smile and leave with a full heart (and a full cart). If you’re in the area, I highly recommend stopping by.

The post Homegrown Business: Nicolas Caprio of Rexall Pharmacy appeared first on Toronto Guardian.